There will be a road race, a parade, a craft show, children's games, band concerts, a public supper, fireworks and dances held on Aug. 11.

"It's shaping up quite well," bicentennial committee member Ann Kendall said Monday.

Since there were 100 entries in a parade featured on the town's 100th birthday, bicentennial committee members hope to have at least that many for the 200th celebration.

Organizers are hoping that businesses, organizations and families will participate in the event, according to committee member Tammy Lockhart. Anyone interested in entering a unit or float in the parade should call the Abbott Memorial Library at 924-7292.

Robert Dudley, a direct descendant of the first settlers, Ebenezer and Hannah Small, will be a parade marshal.

The Dexter Historical Society will have its Grist Mill Museum and the Carr School open to the public throughout the day.

Among the displays will be a centennial token of the town dated 1901 and items from the Jumper family, early settlers in the region. In addition, the first compass used to survey the town lots in the early 1800s will be on display. The tokens are sold separately, in pewter, bronze and silver. The three piece sets are composed of one bronze, one silver and one gold token and sell for $52.50 (tax included). These are numbered sets, from 1 to 150.

Historical society members hope to conduct an art show in the old town hall, previously used as the Abbott Mill office. Members have been negotiating with Guilford of Maine to acquire the building, according to Rick Whitney, museum curator.

The celebration also will feature a vehicle cruise-in, bingo games, an alumni meeting, a special stamp canceling and a music festival.

"There's going to be everything you can think of," Kendall said. "Things are coming into place."
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Tuesday, June 26, 2001 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."